Minnesota State Mankato international student enrollment has more than doubled in the past seven years.

In the photo, Minnesota State Mankato international students march in the University's 2018 Sesquicentennial Homecoming parade.

Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State University, Mankato has moved up four spots from a ranking of 16th to 12th nationally among master’s institutions in international student population, according to an annual “Open Doors Report” released Tuesday, Nov. 13 by the Institute of International Education.

In the last seven years, Minnesota State Mankato’s rising international student enrollment has more than doubled in size.

“Moving up to the No. 12 national ranking in the Open Doors Report demonstrates Minnesota State Mankato’s continued commitment to serving our global community, and we are proud to have students from nearly 100 countries,” said University President Richard Davenport. “Not only are we increasing our incoming numbers of international students, but we are also retaining them at a higher rate. Our fall 2018 data indicated that we have increased the international student retention rate by 11% from the previous fall.

“The increased retention rate is attributable to the significant support systems we have in place on our campus. Through the outstanding work of the Kearney Center for International Student Services here at Minnesota State Mankato, we are able to help students acclimate culturally and to succeed academically.”

The international student population rankings are available online here by clicking on the “Leading Institutions by Institutional Type” tab and then selecting “Master’s Colleges & Universities in the drop-down menu.

The increase in international students has made a positive impact on the local economy.

According to the Open Doors and The Association for International Educators analysis, Minnesota State Mankato international students and their families contributed $41.4 million that support 233 jobs in the local economy during the 2017-18 year, up $8.1 million from the same report issued one year ago. The report is available here:https://istart.iu.edu/nafsa/reports/state.cfm?state=MN&year=2017

In the spring of 2018, Minnesota State Mankato had international students from 92 different nations, with the most students coming from Nepal, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Kuwait. Lists of countries represented by international students at Minnesota State Mankato from 2008 through the spring of 2018 are available here: http://www.mnsu.edu/international/statistics.html

The report reflects a continuous seven-year climb up the national rankings for Minnesota State Mankato, which was ranked 38th in the 2012 Open Doors Report, 34th in 2013, 31st in 2014, 29th in 2015, tied for 23rd in 2016 and 16th in 2017.

This year’s report listed Minnesota State Mankato as having 1,614 international students, up from 1,374 in the 2017 report, 1,281 in the 2016 report, 1,228 in the 2015 report, 1,044 in the 2014 report, 885 in the 2013 report and 770 in the 2012 report. (Note: Figures used in each report are from the preceding fall. For example, the November 2018 report reflects fall 2017 enrollment data.)

Those with additional questions about international student enrollment at Minnesota State Mankato may contact Cheryl Azarbod, administrative assistant in the University’s Global Education office, by phone at 507-389-2900 or by email at cheryl.azarbod@mnsu.edu. She will assist in contacting administrators or staff members who are available to reply to questions.

Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with approximately 15,000 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.